1944-08-31

f EDITORIAL PAGE ''FIGHTING TOP4.Y FOR TOMORROW'S VICTORY" The PEOPLE'S OBSERVER Office 2017 N. Williams Avenue, Portland lZ, Oregon Telephone WEbster 3840 WILLIAM H. McCLENDON, Publisher Established 1943 The People's Observer is p. valiant defender against segregation and its related evils; a vigilant champion for freedom, equality, liberty and justice; an alert guard against all social atrocities; a vitriolic analyst and severe critic of discriminatory practices; a sentinel to warn of all impend– ing retrogressive social trends and tendencies. The People's Observer is not financed or subsidized by any partisan group, organization or individual. I The People's Observer bases its whole program on the goal of equality of opportunity for all minority peoples to share fully in the political, eco– nomic and public life of the col.intry. The problems of the Negro people shall be shown to be related to those of other National minority groups and to the world issues created by the War and to the International ar– rangements resulting after it. Member of the Associated Negro Press, Calvin's Newspaper Service, Ted Yates Publications, Inc., Independent Press Service. This newspaper reserves the right to print for publication all press dispatches, features and photos forwarded by these agencies or otherwise credited to them. ~·· INI)EX TO THE FUTURE Partisan political loyalties and attachments are not customary identifying characteristics of this publication. However, a positive effort has been exerted on previous occasions to serve as a medium of political clarity for the people of this community who rely upon pro– gressive analysis and criticisms for understanding. This policy has been followed diligently and relentlessly because we have come to realize that our readers are largely persecuted and oppressed citizens. These citizens must know the truth regardless of the mental anguish it may create. of color is seriously involved. Thi~ i~:;u~ looms directly as the most ============================= Wallace Pledges No Discrimination The coming election has certain ne~essary and ir~evitable implica– tions for minority peoples residing in the B nited States. For example, the proclaimed national policy, of equality of opportunity irrespective I significant and deserving of serious ·rtten,ion from 1'\egro voters. At L ptesent the role of the .Kegro people in American life is unquestionablv ew that of serfs. Consequently, fir~t anrl. uppermost in the minds of fre~dom loving ~egroes is what method:; of ~truggle are suited to changing and improving the current position o · th~ _•egro people. The many conflicts, over" helming confusion, ps~·chic hysteria and painful sacrifices that have spru11;; out of this war, and the per– plexing national and international arnngements that will come after it, are all products of political thinki 1g and decisions. This realiza– tion demands that Negroes put forth nry effort to become politically astute for their own destinies are ce'1trally linked with their future political actions. For the first time in history the - -egro voters of America are in the position of being able to determine the outcome of the impending election in communities where they I aH never before experienced such a privilege. This is due to the fact that among white voters registra– tions for both the democratic and republican parties are nearly equal. In order that this distinct adYantage will not be lost, it is man- Lew \Vallace, democratic na tiona! committeeman for Oregon, told a rireeting of the Negro Demo– cratic clt\bs of Or.egon at the East Side Elb hall Wednesday, Aug. 30, rhat a letter he sent recently to fed- era! officeholders asking contribu– tions ro the Roosevelt campaign represented ''merely an opportunity for them to do what any good dem– ocrat should do; namely, to support justifiably condemn the soldiers, white or Negro, but only blame datory for every Negro voter here to register who can satisfy the state h 1 · · h 1 h · . . · t e :mt 1ontres w o et sue a srt- requrrements for. votrng. If the task of registering to vote is taken · f h 1 1 · l . h 1 · . u~.tron oment t at cou d resu t m 1g t Y, or mdulged m only to the extent of the monetarv compensa- 1, · d d If . h ]' · ,1 !JOt. tons awar e se IS po rtical functionaries for their false promises I '· ld · h d . · h 1 · ' tauan so 1ers, tau~Yht to hate t en 1saster IS t e u trmate result. Already there are indications of ~ A f .. 11"' · b . k . . . . . nvn- rvan races wa \' deteated petty 1c enng and mdec1s1ve act ron on the part of egro politicians b h· · ' · ' h f h . roug t mto a strange land w o ancy t emselves as bemg members of the "inner circle" of certain h · · ' . f' . . . t rown mto contact with non-An•- ,egments o the Amencan poltt1cal scheme. These victims of grandiose h h ld b , · d 1 · . . . ans-w at s ou e expected r e uswns must prepare to rev1se the1r tact1cs and develop a sincerity M d M. A · h f . . . . r. an rs. menca, w en o purpose or cause themselves and therr people agomzmg grief on the d d h · 1 d · f we rea an ear of accounts of >·Ocla an economic rants. · th1s order, we must realize these Guest Editorial THE FORT LAWTON INCIDENT By EuGENE ARNOLD The question again comes to the forefront: for what purpose is this war or these wars being fought– -( 1) for democracy-emphasiz– ing the four freedoms? (2) for white supremacy? ( 3) or for con– trolling powers for certain finan– cial cliques of imperialist nations? riot was caused by the "easy life" of the Italians, the blame may be placed on the military authorities. On the other hand, the Italians are said to have oftentimes made "funny remarks" concerning the Negro troops, thus causing the troops to think. back to past hap– penings- being rebuked, insulted, or snubbed at various affairs, occa– sions and enterprises. It could have been a grouping up of white and Negro troops, with the Negro troops being push– ed forth to commit the actual viol- are Negro American boys from Chicago, Seattle, H o u s ton , Charleston, or San Francisco, or other American communities who have been risking their lives to pro– tect their homeland. It wasn't bad enough to segregate them in army camps, not only in the south, but in the west and the north, giving them inferior treatment, be com– pared to other soldiers, but finally to accord the conquered enemy far superior treatment than is permit– ted to them. What do you think? You be the judge, giving a fair and just decision. Who is to blame? Wake up America! Continue to READ ... in a small way financially the dem– ocratic campaign for the re-election of Franklin D. Roosevelt, who has done more for the forgotten man, the common man, so l:J speak, than all the presidents from \Vashington to Roosevelt combined." "I want to know and be able to say that our peoplr here :lt home earning good salaries, living in peace and plenty, are doing just as much in their way as those who are offering their lives, their fortunes and their esteemed services in for– eign lands. "I want to say that I consider it my pnvilege and my duty as national committeeman of the dem– ocratic party to see that as far as possible every Oregon boy and girl is given an opportunity, when he or she returns, to receive a position in the employ of the federal govern– ment, or elsewhere, if they so de– sire. If I am not able to do my full duty as national committee– man, then some one else is welcome to the job. "In offering my services in be– half of our fighting service men and women I want it to be known that my every act and endeavor will be without the slighest refer– er-ce to race, color, creed or sex, and I shall dedicate the major por– tion of my services as national Committeeman to the end that full and complete recognition will be given in a material way to all ser– vice men and women." Join the NAACP. You are not going to win any fights alone. With the recent outbreak at Fort Lawton, one wonders just where the real causes lie, and just where the blame may be placed– on the Italians who are members of a service unit, the N egw or white troops stationed the.re, or the mil– itary authorities in charge. If said ence. Regardless of the causes, a crim– inal act has been committed on human beings. Yet one cannot THE PEOPLE'S OBSERVER NEGRO OWNED - NEGRO ·CONTROLLED Our eyes are never closed to Minority Problems! August 31, 1944 Letter to the Editor: • • • Strike at Swan Island The latest feeling of race hatred here in this yard (Swan Island Shipyard) seeped to the surface and became visibly inflamed on August 7th, when it affected not only thoughts, but actions. Eighty percent of the white electricians walked out ... This striking action not only parallels, but equals sabotage. An investigation is urged by the. fed– eral government to seek the leaders of this atrocious act. The~· are guilty of viol~tion of the Smith– Connally anti-strike law. The strikers elected to sacrifice their brothers on the battlefront, rather than control their personal prejudices. These stupid people prefer to pamper their hoarded feelings instead of working to end the war. They prefer to inflict millions of dollars lost in man– hours on the nation, and defy their A hate so consuming and con– taminating that it refuses to listen and understand . . . Whispering campaigns, insulting signs scra\ded hy imbeciles upon walls of rest rooms, white girls advising each other not tG converse with Negro Americans. This, in reality, is fascism ... un-American activity. When will these individuals be ap– prehended? How long must their plague baffle, kill, and oppress? Are the minds of men unable to devise an anti-serum for this dis– ease? The tension here is great. There has been no attempt by the com– pany to substantiate their promises of promoting a mixed crew. The root of the strike can easily be traced to t'he company. The supervisor on one occasion before a hearing of the F,E.P.C. stated that in his opinion no Negro should be upgraded higher than a journey– man. This is evidence of the fact that when the social attitude of the official is reflected, it crystalizes in the minds of the subordinates. The strikers returned to work t'he following day, after being told to do so by the union. The com– pany refused to take any steps to reprimand any of those involved. It is also true that four leadmen (company men) participated in the walk-out. Mr. Olsen, a leader in the strike, was with-drawn for two days and then reinstated, but when Walter Carrington, who has been foremost in fighting for Negro rights, was withdrawn, he h<ts yet to be reinstated. By a well-pondered choice this company has elected to defy and betray the United States govern– ment, refusing to allow some American citizens their rights and equality. The Negro Americans are contributing their share toward the support of the nation, in bonds, work, fighting, and vheir lives! A WORKER Swan Island Shipyard. Don't forget the Negro people will have many new friends as election day draws nearer!